Tail-piece for stringed musical instruments



(No Model.)

W. VAN DEVENTER. TAIL PIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No.463,013.

Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

WITNESSES:

A T TORI/E XS,

of the improvement.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM VAN DEVENTER, OF TACOMA, \VASHIUGTOX.

TAIL-PIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,013, dated November10, 1891.

Application filed May 22, 1891. Serial No. 393,726, (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAIWI VAN Dnvnn TER, of Tacoma, in the county ofPierce and State of lvashingtomhave invented a new and ImprovedTail-Piece for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tail-piecefor stringed musteal instruments which is simple and durable inconstruction and perm-its of conveniently and quickly attaching ordetaching the strings.

The invention consists of a tail-piece provided on its upper edge with aseries of J- shaped slots. c

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described,and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reterence is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, 111- which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is anenlarged plan View Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same.Fig. 4 isaperspective view of part of the improvement, and Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional side elevation of part of the improvement.

The improved tail-piece A is formed. on its upper end with a series ofJ-shaped slots B, arranged one alongside the other, the vertical part ofthe slot extending parallel to the strings of the instrument.

The several slots B form projections C, on which are fastened the endsof the strings D, each of the latter having tiedat or near its end aknotE, adapted to abut or rest in the inner end B of the respective slotB on the top of the tail-piece. On each of the projections 0, and on itsupper edge, is formed a transversely-extending groove F, arranged inline with the inner end B of the respective slot. (See Fig. 4.)

The device is used as follows: The tail-piece A is fastened in the usualmanner to the stringed musical instrument, and the endof each string Dis passed through the vertical part of the slot B, so that the knot E ison top of the tail-piece and part of the string passed through the end Bto the rear, the knot, on

account of being larger than the opening in the end B, prevents the knotfrom slipping through. The string is then passed to the rear through theend B of the slot, then passed rearward on the back of the respectiveprojection C, to be passed through the groove F, and down into andthrough the end B, to again pass through the rear of the tail-piece, andthen from the latterover the bridge G, to the neck of the instrument. Itwill be seen that the end of the string thus forms a loop around therespective projections O, the extreme end of the stringbeing preventedfrom slipping off of the projection by the knot E resting on top of thetail-piece, as plainly shown in the drawings. It will also be seen thatby forming a loop around the respective projection C nearly all thestrain on the string is taken up' by the loop and very little pressureis exerted against the knot. It will further be seen that the string isvery se curely fastened in place on the tail-piece and can be readilyapplied or detached whenever desired for replacing a worn-out string bya new one.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let-- ters Patent- 1. A tail-piece for stringed musicalinstruments, provided on its upper end witha series of J-shaped slots,substantially as shown and described.

2. A tail-piece for stringed musical instruments, provided on its upperend with a series of J-shaped slots, forming projections, each having inits upper edge a transversely-extending groove arranged in line with theinner end of the respective slot, substantially as shown and described.

The combination, with the strings of a musical instrument, each providedat its end with a knot, of a tail-piece provided in its upper end with aseries of J-shaped slots forming projections, each of the projectionsbeing formed in its upper edge with a transverselyextending groove inline .with the inner end of the respective slot, substantially as shownand described.

WILLIAM VAN DEVENTER.

Witnesses:

DAVID F. MURRY, ALBERT E. JoAB.

